NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- The North Adams SteepleCats matched the North Shore Navigators through the opening three innings Sunday evening, but a four-run fourth inning proved to be the difference as the Navigators earned a 6-2 victory and a double-header sweep at Joe Wolfe Field.

 

North Shore won Game One of the double-header, 4-2, following a shutout win over the 'Cats on Saturday night.

 

In Sunday's nightcap, North Adams received a strong start from Garrett Gates and solid relief work throughout the evening, but the SteepleCats were unable to overcome North Shore’s decisive offensive outburst in the middle innings.

 

Gates set the tone from the outset, retiring the Navigators in order in the first inning on a pair of groundouts and a pop out. The right-hander continued to keep North Shore off the scoreboard over the next two frames, working efficiently while allowing his defense to make plays behind him.

 

The SteepleCats had opportunities to strike first.

 

Jake Butler drew a walk in the opening inning before Sebastian Rhoades reached base and advanced into scoring position with a stolen base. North Adams again threatened in the second when Colsen Loughren lined a one-out double, but North Shore starter John Milewski worked out of trouble to keep the game scoreless.

 

Neither team found much offensive rhythm through the first three innings as both pitching staffs controlled the pace. Gates retired the side in order in the third, while the SteepleCats continued searching for the timely hit that could break the deadlock.

 

The game changed in the top of the fourth.

 

After a leadoff double, Anderson French delivered an RBI single to give North Shore its first lead. Danati Fronduto followed with a single before Jason Bello was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Grant Hunter then came through with the biggest hit of the inning, lining a two-run single to stretch the advantage. Another hit batter and a walk later in the inning allowed the Navigators to plate a fourth run to go up 4-0 before the SteepleCats recorded the final out.

 

North Adams answered immediately in the bottom half.

 

Matthew Colella reached to begin the inning before Loughren singled and Alex Barrist added another base hit to load the bases with nobody out. During Meier’s at-bat, an errant throw attempting to cut down a runner at the plate skipped past the catcher, allowing two SteepleCats to score and trim the deficit to 4-2. The rally showed life for North Adams, but North Shore escaped further damage with a pop out and consecutive strikeouts to maintain the lead.

 

The Navigators added to their advanta ge in the fifth when Fronduto reached with a single and Tyler Shulman followed with an RBI base hit. North Shore later added another insurance run to extend the lead to 6-2.

 

North Adams’ bullpen kept the game within reach the rest of the way. Jack Sarno tossed a scoreless fifth inning before Tyler Tedeschi struck out two during a clean sixth. Justin Fryer handled the seventh, retiring the first two hitters before recording a strikeout to end the contest.

 

Loughren led the SteepleCats offensively with a double and a single, while Barrist also collected a hit during North Adams’ two-run fourth inning. Butler reached base with a walk, and Meier helped spark the club’s lone scoring inning.

 

Although the SteepleCats generated traffic on the bases in several innings and received quality work from five different pitchers, North Shore capitalized on its opportunities in the fourth and held North Adams to two runs the rest of the way.

 

The SteepleCats (4-15) will look to get back in the win column on Monday evening at Keene, N.H.